Onkyo TX-SR604 opinions (and questions) - if you own it, click here! - Page 4

My question was answered by just simply looking at Sony's product support/the darn manual, my setup is correct.

I don't have this receiver, but from what I understand, it doesn't do 7.1 PCM over HDMI.

Chris

I picked up a 604 yesterday. Yes, it does make a loud clicking noise when switching between inputs, but then again, so did my old Sony receiver.

I placed it in an open cabinet on top of a glass shelf, and the remote control wasn't being read very well. So, I moved it up to the next higher shelf and it worked a bit better. When I moved it to the top shelf of the cabinet, it worked flawlessly.

I thought that was strange, because my DVD player, etc. remote controls all work fine in any of the cabinet locations.

So, I thought the IR receiver might be bad so I exchanged the 604 for a new one. When I got it home, I had the same issue, so it's now living on the top shelf of the cabinet. I even tried using my Harmony instead of the remote control that it came with, and the Harmony wouldn't talk to it well either unless it was on the top shelf. Of course, the Harmony would talk to my DVD player, etc. just fine no matter what shelf the DVD player was on.

Anyone else have wierd issues with the remote control like I've had? It almost seems like the IR receiver inside the stereo receiver itself was put in a bad location or is under powered?

I was impressed by the auto speaker setup and the sound quality sounds pretty good. I've set all my input settings to "direct". Anyone have any good ideas on surround settings that they like (like theater, etc.)? I doubt there is a point to use anything but direct on 5.1 sources, etc., but if something is being broadcast in 2.0 I could see why I might want to use a different mode.

I've had no issues with pink screens, etc. as previously reported by a few people.

Tonight, when I get home from work, will be the real test. I didn't want to turn up the volume too much last night when I got everything connected at 11:30 pm, so I haven't had a chance to experience the receiver's true potential yet with my Polk speakers.

Robert

[quote=Jack Gilvey]Good to know, I've got the same minus the 604. What type of bass-management options are you offered for the LPCM/HDMI input, and do the Audyssey adjustments affect that input also?


I haven't had timeto test the Audyessey system yet. I did adjust the bass management, I assumed it applied to all sources (and seemed to be working that way), maybe I need to check that though. I'll report back after testing the Audyssey.

Gang,
I dont think this receiver can do 7.1 LPCM over HDMI

Good deal, thanks. Just wanted to confirm that you could handle the HDMI input that way, and if the Audyssey corrections appled globally...to every input.

One more question... what's the difference between setting the Dolby Digital output to "direct" vs. "dolby digital"? Aren't they, in fact, the same?

*confused look*

Robert

Is there any device out there to lower the output of a speaker to pre-out levels? I have a TV that will let me use its speakers as center channel speakers, but obviously I cannot if the TV AND the AMP power the speakers.

problem solved

[quote=rocko1290]A few questions regarding the TX-SR604:

Is it possible for the Zone 1 & Zone 2 speakers to play simultaneously?

Can the Zone 2 speakers be used with any of the audio inputs (digital coaxial, digital optical [toslink], RCA analog inputs, 5.1 analog inputs)?

I just hooked up my 604 and can answer two of the questions. yes, zone 1 and 2 can play simultaneously. Zone 2 only works with analog inputs though. So, it won't with optical. So, zone 1 can play from optical while zone 2 plays a source like ipod hooked into analog input like video 4.

[/quote]
I just hooked up my 604 and can answer two of the questions. yes, zone 1 and 2 can play simultaneously. Zone 2 only works with analog inputs though. So, it won't with optical. So, zone 1 can play from optical while zone 2 plays a source like ipod hooked into analog input like video 4.[/quote]

I just bought this puppy and I'm really unclear as to how to deal with zone 2. I've always had an A/B/A+B speaker switch before so that I could simply turn on the speakers in the living room. I have wires running and a volume control in the wall. I use them for parties and such and so use XM off of DirectTV, my CD changer, or my DVD player for music sources. All of these devices are hooked up through digital means (optical or HDMI). Does that mean I can't play any of those sources in the living room? It seems a shame that such a fine receiver can't push two pairs of stereo speakers.... I haven't hooked it up yet, because if I can't fix the problem I'm going to send it back.

Any ideas for workarounds? I've considered double cabling both the HDMI/optical and analog, but I wonder about strange timing issues or phase relationships.

I have posted this elsewhere, but have been unsuccessful getting a response. Have any of you had any problems getting a DVD player to work on this via HDMI? Ever since I hooked up my DVD player to the 604 it either freezes about 1 to 2 seconds after loading the disc or it doesn't show any video at all, but continues to run. DVD player is a Samsung DVD-HD860 and is fairly new, so I am trying to determine if it is the player, the HDMI cables, or the receiver.

my guess is that you'll be fine double cabling, but yes - you will need to do it. i wouldn't expect there to be any strange timing issues or phase problems with speakers running in different rooms. the good news is that it is easy to try, and then you can report back to the rest of us.

note: the issue is not that the onkyo "can't push two pairs of stereo speakers" (it can push three pair, plus a center and sub!), but rather that the digital inputs are not routed internally to zone 2. so, you will have to connect analog sources to play them over zone 2; the beauty is that in addition, you can now have someone watching a DVD with 5.1 surround, and someone else can be in the living room reading to music from the CD changer.

good luck.

I have had my Onkyo 604 for less than two weeks and when paired with my HD-DVD player, I was of course impressed by what I saw and what I heard. Now that the newness has worn off, I decided to listen to some traditional stereo music and watch a few normal DVD's. I will point out that the CD's and DVD's I am listening to are being played back via my Sony SD-DVD player that I used to have hooked up to my HK AVR240.

For some reason, this receiver is playing back LFE at a much lower level than my AVR 240 and AVR 65 that preceded it. I have spent the last hour testing so I know what I am hearing. With either HK hooked up to my home theater speakers including an Atlantic Technology 12" subwoofer, I typically had the sub's input level set to about 11:00 and no db adjustment either up or down. With this new Onkyo receiver I have found that I have to be at least 2:00 to get even close to the same LFE. I have reread the manual to see if I have a setting off but I can't find it. I did see the section about subwoofer input level but that only affects the direct input, not something you would get over optical.

If I increase the subs output by 5db's I get close, but then I get a boomy sound. What have others experienced with this receiver with regard to LFE? There really isn't another HDMI receiver in this price range so I am not sure what I could return it for should I decide to do that.

Greg

It is certainly possible that you have a bad unit, but several of these types of problems have been determined to be issues related to other hardware (e.g., sammy BD player).

I've used 2 different DVD players (Sony upconverting & Toshiba HD-A2) via HDMI without any problems with the Onkyo 604. They behaved differently, but it was always a player related difference; for instance, the Sony wouldn't play any audio if I didn't have an HDCP display connected to the receiver. The A2, in contrast, will.

I also use a ProBrand HDTV tuner box connected via HDMI without issue.

good luck!

Thanks for the help. I guess I will start to troubleshoot it first by picking up a new DVD player and see if the problem is solved. If that doesn't work I will return the receiver.

I picked up mine on Saturday and hooked everything up this weekend. I'm very pleased with. HDMI and everthing was pretty much a breeze. But I do have one question thou. For some reason after awhile the sound mode will change by itself. Is this normal?

Thanks! Good point wrt pushing the speakers - I confess to have posted while frustrated. Will see if I can hook it up before the end of the week and get back to everyone. I'm still waiting on my HDMI cables to show up

Can someone with a ps3 test if you can use component video with hdmi audio?
It'd help with how my setup is organised

I may be asking a dumb question but when I hook my Motorola HD cable unit through the R604 and out to my Panasonic Plasma TV via HDMI I get a copyright protection message and the screen then turns a solid green. Is there a quick fix or is it the case that the cable unit cannot go through the receiver. Everything is OK if I go HDMI directly from the cable unit to the TV. Any advice is appreciated.

Motorola HD cable box is the problem in this case and will need to be upgraded. Talk to your cable provider, they should be able to either upgrade that unit or provide you a unit which does not have this issue.

As it turns out it was the DVD player creating the problem, not the receiver (or rather the compatibility between the two) Onkyo receivers just do not work with Samsung players. I bought a Panasonic yesterday and hooked it up and besides it being a much better overall unit, it also playes perfectly on my TV through the receiver via HDMI.

I called Comcast as well, and they admitted that the motorola boxes have handshake issues and there still has not been any firmware release that completely solves the problem, but they have at least minimized it.

I find it a little funny that the next best thing in AV connectivity is turning out to be nothing more than a pain in the butt for everyone!

thanks for reporting back on this issue, casull.

Does this unit convert HDMI inputs to Component Output? I have the commercial Panasonic Plasma, and don't want to buy the extra input card if I don't have to. Plus my home is pre-wired with component, and running a HDMI cable would be a PIA.

thanks

No... in fact, i don't know of any AVRs that convert HDMI to component.

is there a reason, given your desire for component, that you would not use the component inputs to feed the component outs to your display?

I could use components in to feed the receiver, but the upconverting DVD players upconvert via HDMI. I'm not looking for an HDMI to Component upconvert from the receiver, but a digital to analog conversion--the Component is capable of handling the 720p or 1080i signal that I would be looking for, only via analog instead of digital format.

well, like i mentioned, i don't know of any AVRs that do what you want. someone else may know more on the subject, but i would be surprised to find one; doing so would circumvent the entire "reasoning" behind disallowing upconversion via component connections.

good luck!

so the only way to have HDMI sources and Component sources run to the monitor through this receiver is to run seperate outputs, correct?

That is correct. HDMI only works with HDMI on this receiver. there is no cross functionality between HDMI and any other feed. This is also true for the audio. In reference to the person asking if you can do component video with HDMI audio on his PS3, that will not work. With the HDMI it is an all or none deal. you either use the audio and video from the HDMI feed or you don't use it at all unfortunately.